eSAFETY GUIDE

Microsoft Teams

13+
Minimum age according to Microsoft Teams
13+ Minimum age according to Microsoft Teams

What is Microsoft Teams?

Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform. It is commonly used by workplaces and in education settings, including schools, universities and TAFE.

You can use Microsoft Teams to send messages, participate in one-on-one or group chats, have video or audio meetings, and store files. It also includes features such as screen sharing, adding custom backgrounds in video meetings, sharing notes in real time (where you can add tasks or agenda items), editing Microsoft Office files from within the app, delivering online presentations and virtual classes, and the sharing of images, files, gifs, stickers and emojis. Teams can also be integrated with other apps.

Microsoft offers Teams as different plans designed for individuals, education, business and enterprise.

Plans for individuals are free, and are mainly designed for personal use – however, people can also choose to use them for things like their small business (but they are not designed as business plans). Microsoft Teams business plans are paid and are designed for organisations and workplaces. They have more advanced features and admin controls. Business plans are for organisations with up to 300 employees, while enterprise plans are for organisations with more than 300 employees.

Students and educators can also use ‘Microsoft Teams for Education’ for free, if they have a current, valid email address provided by an accredited school, university, or other educational institution. This includes some education-specific features, such as tools for creating assignments.

Microsoft Teams integrates with other Microsoft applications and third-party tools, apps, bots and connectors. It uses a variety of security measures to keep communication private and is available on web browser (with limited features), desktop and mobile applications.

Platforms: Windows, MacOS, Linux, Apple iOS and Android.

Website: products.office.com/en-au/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software

Apps: Android, Apple iOS

How do people use Microsoft Teams?

Learn more about the benefits and risks associated with how people use collaborative communication services like Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft Teams is used for: encrypted, in-app purchasing, live streaming, messaging/online chat, online relationships, photo/video sharing, screen capture, video calling and voice chat.

How can you report an issue?

This link is provided by Microsoft:

  • Report an issue
    Report security concerns or issues to Microsoft regarding any of its software.

How can you protect personal information and keep meetings secure?

These links are provided by Microsoft:

Key safety links

These links are provided by Microsoft:

Social media changes

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms are not allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

Find out more at eSafety’s social media age restrictions hub.

About The eSafety Guide

The eSafety Guide helps you find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites. Entries are for information only and are not reviews, endorsements or assessments against any legislative definition by eSafety. Before choosing to use any online service or platform it’s best to:

  • do your own research to understand the risks and benefits
  • check the age rating and requirements
  • consider privacy
  • check the permissions and other settings
  • check the in-app reporting options.

If you are a parent or carer who is deciding whether a child should be allowed to use an online service or platform, you can also:

  • consider your child's readiness for the types of content and experiences they might encounter
  • help them understand what to do if they need help
  • provide ongoing support and monitoring, for example through regular check-ins with your child
  • agree to some rules about use of each service or platform.

To find out more, you can read the App checklist for parents, as well as information about parental controls in social media, games and apps and mental wellbeing resources for families.